there is so much that can be cited in this thread...but basically, pertaining to style, culture, hip hop, NY was always on some arrogant shyt. they never anticipated something like the internet coming along to expose people to many different things. NY stayed in a bubble. The entire generation of my family before me migrated to NYC. So, half of my cousins is from from there. When people started to move from NY to other places, the footprint of that style and culture expanded. Dont take this the wrong way, because I love NYC. Growing up I spent a lot of time there and wished I lived there full time.
nikkas showed love, but at the same time it was that arrogance that you were always beneath them. They always equated the south with being slow. It wasnt a good look though that every time a nikka got in some serious beef or drama in the drug game they had to run to the south. I have a cousin who is a famous dude in NYC history who fled to NC. Lived here and went to school with us before he returned to NY and went down in infamy. nikkas was always quick to say "nikkas aint run me outta NY". fukk u doin down here for then? I have quite a few relatives that did that shyt.
As time went on, most of my relatives moved out of NY. They just werent feeling it. It was too expensive, taxes too high, long commutes, not good place to raise kids, etc...They all livin good now and they dont go around shouting out or braggin on NY. They are in a good place and secure with themselves. Weak nikkas used to carry NYC around on their arms as a badge of honor. It spoke to their insecurities.
Lastly, NY nikkas always been about getting money. When the hip hop landscape shifted, NY forsook their creativity in lieu of money but were the quickest to yell sell out before that. I have a long history with NYC. I passed on record deals because labels were already trying to jerk nikkas, on top of that, they really tried to play you if you were from the south (even though back in the 90's, NC nikkas had a NYC sound as far as lyrics and production). Then the fact that NYC kept telling everyone that nobody wanted to hear people from NC. NYC shytted on and held a lot of people back, but in times things evolve and cant stay the same forever.
Fast forward to the present. A lot of the artists I know that signed, some even had gold records.....they not living better than I am. Why, because I was more than music, I am actually a smart dude with many avenues. Growing up, I embraced the NYC style and swag and a lot of it influenced me. As you get older, you tend to be able to distinguish the trivial and superficial. I wouldnt say that people hate NYC. Thats just not true. Most were influenced by NYC in some form or fashion. I just think as a whole NY has been humbled. Yet, you must use humility to learn from and move forward. That is something NY has just not accepted yet.